English cleric George Burden gave a famous sermon in 1804 on ‘Lawful Amusements’. What did this refer to?
Answer: He laid down that Christians must refrain from all amusements on Sunday, including travelling and paying visits. This was later expanded by enthusiastic supporters to include a prohibition on taking a stroll in a public garden, and deeming it a sin to tell the maid one was out, when one was in.
Source: Sex in History by G Rattray Taylor